Charita Cadenhead, of Bham Wire Realty in Birmingham, Alabama has made some excellent points in her recent post on ActiveRain. There are alot of folks who really don't know what our REALTOR Code of Ethics demands of Realtors. Charita has brought a few of those to light!
Client or Customer? If You Don't Know, Then How Do You Expect Consumers to Know?
It seems to me that while reading posts on ActiveRain, I read where agents refer only to "clients" and NEVER "customer." Should I assume that we all only work with "clients" or do we work with "customers" as well? Or could it be that some:
- Just do so without thinking?
- Don't know the difference between the two?
- Want to sound more important by using the word client?
- Want to give the impression that we only work with buyers that sign Buyer Agency Agreements (even though that isn't always true)?
- Have forgotten that technically there is a difference?
Personally I think that the use of the words customer and client in real estate is for the benefit of agents only and a bit ridiculous to me. I mean consumers really don't give a damn. They just want to be treated fairly and we owe that to anyone that we work with regardless (or irregardless which should be removed from the English language) of whether they are clients or customers.
At any rate, you can call them what you like. I'm not really bothered by it like some. I'm just being the typical wordsmith here and thought the topic was a good one to chew on for a minute.
But since definitions exist in the world of real estate, we may as well know what they are and how they are applied.
Just in case you've forgotten or haven't read the Code of Ethics since Shep was a puppy, here's a little refresher:
As used in this Code of Ethics, “client” means the person(s) or entity(ies) with whom a REALTOR® or a REALTOR®’s firm has an agency or legally recognized non-agency relationship;
“customer” means a party to a real estate transaction who receives information, services, or benefits but has no contractual relationship with the REALTOR® or the REALTOR®’s firm;
“prospect” means a purchaser, seller, tenant, or landlord who is not subject to a representation relationship with the REALTOR® or REALTOR®’s firm;
“agent” means a real estate licensee (including brokers and sales associates) acting in an agency relationship as defined by state law or regulation; and “broker” means a real estate licensee (including brokers and sales associates) acting as an agent or in a legally recognized non-agency capacity. (Adopted 1/95, Amended 1/07)
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Charita Cadenhead, Your Metropolitan Birmingham, Alabama Real Estate Broker of Choice
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For those that do not live and breath selling Real Estate every day you may not realize what the term “accompanied showing” means. This little piece of Real Estate jargon is when the buyers agent is required to meet the listing agent when showing a home or other property.
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I smile. I'll do what I can to make a positive impact for those I serve. The forces of nature really will take care of itself.

had a client email to tell me that her husband decided to go with a family friend for their current listing needs. I had done all the leg work, set a price for their upcoming sale, provided all the paperwork for their short sale and they took it followed by a short email and a simple "sorry, but" line that would leave most of us frustrated. It did me.
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The home inspector unlike for example the plumber, has nothing to sell other than his skill inspecting homes. Sure the plumber is way more knowledgeable about plumbing, but he makes his living installing pipes and associated components, not inspecting them. The other aspect of an expertise is the expert may often see their product/skill as the answer to the homeowner’s problem even when it may not be the solution.
I noted a sump pump discharge along the same wall. Not really a surprise to see considering the exterior drainage conditions one would think.

In addition to ACCESS to getting into a home for a showing a pet peeve I have with some listing agents is the proper PAPERWORK a buyer agent needs to make an offer. ACCESS to that paperwork.
As of today, Wells Fargo customers are receiving their Flood Certification Notices.





